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Rant & Rave: Shimmer Eyeshadow

Tell us what you love and hate about...

Shimmer Eyeshadow

I love shimmer eyeshadow over all other finishes (but there is a place for all!) as they’re just easier to blend and apply! The only kind I don’t like are the type that are drier or dustier, so the shimmer can emphasize the texture of my lids.

— Christine

21 Comments

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Deborah S. Avatar

I do like a good shimmer eye shadow. I have textured skin and hyperpigmentation so the shimmer I use on my face has to be a subtle reflection. I do love to use high shimmer on my mobile lid but I always make sure to use one that adheres well on it’s own or I use a good glue. If an eye shadow is just a glitter bomb then I don’t use it at all.

Rachel R. Avatar

RAVE: Shimmers are my favorite. I love how they catch the light, and I think they’re super-flattering. They’re usually easy to work with and blend. I have really deep-set eyes, and I think shimmers help counteract that.

RANT: I have slightly hooded eyes, so I have to be careful not to use light colored shimmers in my “crease,” or it will emphasize the hooding.

Shannon. N Avatar

Rave: I love shimmer shadows the most, and I think I own the most shimmers. I love love love dense, thick, creamy shimmer shadows! I love how you can get a lot of pigment out if shimmers with less. I love how they make my dark eyes shine and twinkle!

Rant: I have severely hooded eyes, so I cant use any light shimmers in my crease, and in my opinion, the most I can get away with is satin finish shades in the crease, as shimmery/metallic shades can really emphasize my hood, and make my small almond eyes even smaller!

Mariella Avatar

Shimmer and sheen shadows are like air to me! I love them and use them all the time. I find that rather than being “aging”, they make my eyes and my whole face look brighter and more “there”. What I don’t like – chunky glitter like in the lighter side of MAC’s old Illusionary/Burning Ambition MES or – even worse – the sort of glitter that likes to sprinkle down onto the rest of my face not just during application but all throughout the day too (UD, you have to know which shadows are the worst culprits for this). I even bought a 2nd pan of Maui Wowie – in the “new formula” because I love the colour of that shadow SOOO much and was hoping the new formula would have dealt with the problem; now I have TWO pans of Maui Wowie that I can’t wear except at Halloween.

Marie-Estelle Avatar

Hi Mariella,

Did you try using this shadow over a glitter glue (too faced one or lit cosmetic one? I think nyx makes one in a tube like too faced. Cheap for a test). I have yet to try it myself but I know a lot of people use it to prevent fall out during wear or when one has hooded eyes.

Mariella Avatar

Marie Estelle, I have tried Too Faced Glitter Glue years ago but found it made it hard to blend the other shadows. I also have (and always forget to use) a silicone “glitter shadow applicator” thing that helps during application but doesn’t hold the offending glitter in place. I should probably buy a tube of Glitter Glue and try it again. Those other brands aren’t available where I am (well, NYX is, but it’s not the full lineup of products).

Marie-Estelle Avatar

I didn’t think about this! ? in my mind I pictured myself applying the other shadows such as crease colours first, then a tad of glitter glue where I want to place the glittery shadows and finally pat it over it. Is this also how you proceeded?
I am also not living in the US, we have so little choice! Beautylish does sell lit cosmetics products and delivers worldwide.

Nancy T Avatar

Even though I have had very hooded eyes my entire life, I do love shimmery and metallic eyeshadows! BUT; not on my browbone or as a transition shade, or else it will make the hooded area look even puffier and fat. I am therefore relegated to using them on mainly the mobile lid and lower lashline.
So, in reality, I have no real rant except against poorly manufactured shimmers that don’t have enough binder in them in order for them to adhere and blend nicely.

AB Avatar

Rave: Generally, I love shimmer shadows; they usually look richer, smoother, and add a little something.

Rant: I just can’t seem to make any look good on me. My eyes are large and somewhat deep set, and very slightly hooded these days (I’m mid-50’s). I can’t seem to make them work whether on brow bone, just a touch on lid, etc. Lately I’ve tried a neutral, very very slightly shimmery neutral as accent on inner upper lid, and it’s not awful so maybe I’m figuring it out. I look forward to learning from others’ sharing.

Linda Avatar

Rave: LOVE shimmers! Even when I vow to myself, “matte look today,” I end up putting something shiny mid-lid. Just looks better, brighter on me. I do not like glitter at all, but shimmer and sheen — all day long.

Rant: None. Love me some shimmer!

Calimom Avatar

Shimmer eyeshadow is my favorite. I have deep set/hooded eyes and the shimmer helps give them emphasis. I only wear more neutral shimmer though. Pales colors can highlight wrinkles.

Anne Avatar

Rave: They’re beautiful when applied appropriately for the particular person. (But, I don’t like to see the fall out all over the cheeks. And, I don’t like to see it transferred into a mess all over the eye, either.)

Rant: I don’t like them AT ALL when the rest of the face is shimmered, too — shimmering bronzer, shimmering blush, shimmering highlighter, shimmering lipstick, shimmering foundation. I’ve yet to see anyone who can pull all that off, but I’ve seen a lot who try.

Emily Avatar

Love shimmery eyeshadow, but I do have a problem where some shimmer shadows make the inner part of my mobile lid look textured almost to the point of scaly. It’s the worst, and it’s impossible to tell which ones will do it; it might happen with some but not others from the same palette. But 80% of the time, I think they’re great. I like super-sparkly for fun occasions, and faint shimmer for work.

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